The last published sticker capsule is Half-Life: Alyx Sticker Capsule. This is the second consecutive crossover Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with other games. In the previous capsule, there were stickers from the Halo universe.
So, why Half-Life: Alyx is cool, and what themed capsule stickers mean?
Prequel
Despite the fact that Half-Life: Alyx is the last game in the Half-Life universe, its events unfold between the first and second parts. The plot of the game is a prequel to the second part and tells the story on behalf of one of the key non-gaming characters of HL 2 – Alyx Vance.
This is the first Valve game made entirely in VR. Previously, the company only partially included support for virtual reality – such as a match viewing room in Dota 2. Together with the development of the game, the company was engaged in the design of the Valve Index helmet. Together they give a “true VR experience.”
Common with CS
These games have one more thing in common – the engine. Half-Life: Alyx was created on Source 2. According to rumors, it is precisely on this engine that Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will soon be ported. Unlike Dota 2, HL: Alyx has a first-person camera, which means that now the game is as close as possible to what the updated CS will look like.
Half-Life: Alyx looks great for a VR game, but if you look not only at textures and shadows, another feature of the game design is noticeable – the levels in HL: Alyx are small, comparable to the CS:GO cards. At the same time, the locations are full of details and well designed.
At the same time, the game has high performance, which is achieved using modern APIs. This means that if Valve decides to improve the graphics of the game, then they will not be able to lose in performance.
What do the stickers mean?
Along with the release of the new HL, a thematic capsule with stickers was added to CS:GO. It contains 13 new stickers. Let’s talk about them.
Vortigaunt the Painter и Vortigaunt (Holo)
These stickers depict the Vortigaunts – aliens from Half-Life. The first sticker shows an alien with an easel. He is a clear homage to the famous TV presenter and artist Bob Ross. The second sticker is just the head of the vortigaunt. No easter eggs.
Greetings, Gnome Mercy
Two stickers with “internal” memes of the Half-Life community. The first sticker depicts a gray-haired scientist with a bubble of “Greetings” text.
The character became a meme after jumping in the first Half-Life through the window straight at the feet of Gordon Freeman. After this trick, he calmly rose, and calmly greeted.
The second sticker has a more interesting story. In Half-Life 2: Episode Two, you could find a garden gnome and drag him through almost the entire game to get the achievement. It can also be found in Half-Life: Alyx and dragging through the game also get an achievement.
Big Hugs, Combine Helmet
Stickers with enemies from the Half-Life series. The first depicts a headcrab in a jump. These monsters are trying to jump on heads and seize control of the victim and, if luck would have it, the goal will turn into a zombie.
The second sticker is made in the shape of a helmet and skull of an Alliance soldier. These are cybernetically modified people who were in the service of aliens.
Last Vance, Health, Lambda
The first sticker depicts the main character of the game – Alyx Vance. The second is the Half-Life: Alyx interface element. The display on gloves shows the health reserve. And Lambda is the logo of the original game. It can be found in HL: Alyx – if you turn Y in the name, you get lambda.
Half-Life: Alyx has become a pleasant present for all fans of the series who have been waiting for the next part of the game for more than ten years. Now we just hope that we don’t have to wait for the next one a dozen more for another ten years.
